- The success of rugby in Asia may rest on a Japanese squad who are in a tough group against Ireland and Scotland
- Asia Rugby’s general manager Ross Mitchell said Hong Kong looks ready to break through to next level with solid high-performance structure in play
Asia Rugby's general manager Ross Mitchell isn't shy about making predictions.
"We're confident," he said when asked about Japan's chances of advancing out of pool A in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which also includes Ireland and Scotland, two teams ranked higher than them. "Back in the last World Cup (Japan) won three games, and they're the only team ever to win three games and not go through.
"With the teams they're playing, every single one of those teams can win on that day. Now, this is on their home ground in front of their home fans so we're confident they are going to get through to the quarter-finals, at least."
Japan will also play Russia and Samoa, games they should win, but a date with Scotland on Sunday, October 13, the last pool game of the tournament, will probably decide their fate. However, this is likely to set up a quarter-final match against one of the two heavyweights in pool B " New Zealand or South Africa.
Mitchell said he is happy about one thing, after all the planning, calculating, theorising and strategising " the wait is over. He said hosting the first Rugby World Cup in a "non-traditional rugby environment" is something Japan and Asia Rugby can be extremely proud of.
"We started this eight years ago when (Japan) got awarded it," said Mitchell from Hong Kong's Rugby World Cup fanzone at the Central Harbourfront by the Observation Wheel. "And no one could see the end of the tunnel and now here we are, so this is a great sense of achievement. We approached this with a little bit of trepidation, no one knew what was going to happen, this is the start of a new era."
Japan fans learning the @russiarugby anthem ahead of #JPNvRUS is exactly what we're here for.Beyond awesome. #RWC2019 #RWCTokyo pic.twitter.com/cDRffQ7nsS
" Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 20, 2019
Rugby's success in Asia can largely be attributed to one nation (Japan) and even whittled down to one defining moment in the sport's modern era. On September 19 at Falmer Stadium during the last World Cup in 2015, an upstart Japanese squad orchestrated a result for the ages, knocking off the Springboks in Hollywood fashion. Now as the sport has solidified its foundation in Japan, Asia Rugby turns its sights to "the next team coming up the ladder".
"(Hong Kong) deserve to have that exposure," said Mitchell, noting the city's high-performance atmosphere around its various national teams. "Hong Kong shouldn't be left behind nor should the next team coming up the ladder in Asia, but they have to demonstrate they have a high-performance environment. And at the moment that is quite tricky for some unions because they just don't have the investment in the same way Hong Kong has."
There is no denying a massive chance was lost when Hong Kong failed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup via a last ditch repechage this past November in France. However as the city moves forward with its ever-improving programme, Mitchell said some marquee games are on the horizon.
While World Rugby's league plans fell through, he said they were still in talks to get Hong Kong a few high-quality matches with some comparable teams. Hong Kong are ranked 24th in the world while Japan sit 10th. The closest other nation in Asia is South Korea at 31.
"We are working with World Rugby on a competition. Hong Kong and Japan will both have a home and away series with some other competitive teams."
Hong Kong can also look forward to the first full season of Global Rapid Rugby next summer as the South China Tigers are likely to get more than a dozen games to cut their teeth.
Outside Japan and Hong Kong, Mitchell said the landscape is much less clear. While Asia Rugby estimates there are 112.5 million fans in the region (the largest in the world), tapping markets like India and China have proved tough.
"China is a difficult market as everyone has found out," said Mitchell. "We're in there, and even with our numbers in there it is minuscule. What we've got to do, and what World Rugby has to do, which is what it hasn't achieved is get rugby seen across China. This is what basketball did so successfully, get it out there so people can recognise this ball."
However there are signs well laid plans are now starting to bear fruit. China's women's sevens side have become a force to be reckoned with, while the men are creeping on the heels of South Korea.
With the teams they're playing, every single one of those teams can win on that day. Now, this is on their home ground in front of their home fans so we're confident they are going to get through to the quarter-finals, at least.Ross Mitchel, GM of Asia Rugby
But outside the sevens, the 15-a-side game remains much more complicated. China's 15s men's team are ranked 80th in the world, behind countries like Peru and Guam. Mitchell said while the sevens game grows in emerging nations, the 15s remains the bread and butter and the "pure game" to many fans, followers and key stakeholders.
"They are two different things and one thing we can't get away from is all of World Rugby's money comes from this one tournament. Ninety-five per cent of World Rugby's money comes from the next six weeks, so you can't throw the baby out with the bathwater."
Regardless, Mitchell said the sevens game could flourish in certain countries around the region for a very specific, physically minded reason.
"Asian unions that may not have the stature of the European or Polynesian countries, so sevens is a game they can be far more competitive at. But you've still got to have the right marketing, you still have to sell that game in that country the right way."
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